One could launch some discussions about optimal layerheights.If you want a detailed print and do not care about the time it takes or a strong print with thick layers : that's one part of the discussion.Mechanically it is easier. Full step heights are the best distances for high torque keeping the bed nicely locked.For a standard FT5 one has 200 steps to cover 8mm. That's a fact when using the standard 1,8° steppers.One full step covers 0,04mm (8mm / 200)I added an excel sheet I use to choose the optimal layer height. Just take it as it is and use it if you like.It has been set up for the FT5 mechanics.Fill in the total height of the print and the optimal layer heights are highlighted.I use the preferred ones for prints that are not that high and are not that detailed because they fit exactly in the total height of the piece. As in the example : If I want 6mm and print with 0,4mm I will have 6mm at the end. If I use 0,52mm I will end up with 6,28mm. Using 0,16mm will give me 6,08mm. Just to show that it is important when using thicker layers to choose the right layerheight.

I used it up to now for myself and that was ok for me.When sharing, there is some need to make it a bit more fancy and self explaining. I added also some extra functions, I didn't add before.So what will you find in it :

Yellow fields are for for data entry

Critical print height : the height you want your piece to have. Measured from the bed in mm

Max tolerance : The maximum deviation you will accept from the Critical print height in mm

Nozzle : Nozzle width in mm from the nozzle you would like to use for the print. Determines the max layer height shown in the table.

Z-stepper angle : Choose between 1,8° and 0,9° stepper angles

Displacement in mm per revolution : One complete revolution lifts the bed this number of mm

How to :

First set up the sheet by entering the Z-axis parameters. Should be done only once, unless you mount another stepper or install another leadscrew.

The values in the rest of the sheet are calculated automatically.Layer heights : In this column you find the layerheights you can print with the nozzle chosen. The ones that result in the exact Critical print height are highlighted.

Minimum height : Number of layers needed for the Critical print height or just a fraction below. Height is shown and the deviation from the Critical print height.Colorcode : - Light green : exactly what you wanted. Sweet spot.- Dark green with white characters : still within tolerance- red : out of tolerance.

: the exact height you want your print to be measured from the bed. In the column layer heights the preferred ones or sweet spots will be highlighted. These are the layer heights were you will end up with the critical print height. The min and max columns show the real total heights for a specific layer height.

Maximum height : The same as the Minimum height except these are just a fraction above the critical print height

With the stock Pololu A4988 step sticks you can't determine that.There is no "pole" or "home" output available.This may not be the case with other drivers, but even if they do have such an output, there is no corresponding input on the base board to sense it.

The only practical way I know of would be to power up the chip, at which point it is by default at a pole position, and add software to set a status bit each time the microstep count is reached (such as every 16th step for the Pololu) and reset it at all other counts.

It probably doesn't matter all that much in practical terms though anyway.